Common names
Black-fruit Bluebush
Etymology
'Maireana', after the 19th century French botanist, Adolphe Lemaire and 'melanocarpa', meaning black-fruited.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia; mostly recorded from the northern Flinders Ranges region with a few records further north. Native, Rare in South Australia
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Branched shrub to approximately 50 cm; woolly branches with alternate, semi-terete woolly leaves. Glabrous flowers with woolly margins. Fruits and flowers from May to September. Fruits are fruiting perianth dark-brown to black when dry, with a simple, horizontal wing to 6 mm diameter, with prominent dark-brown venation and a single radial slit. Seeds are ellipsoid to circular, brown convex seed Seed embryo type is peripheral
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and May. Collect seeds when fruits are brown and papery. Check inside several fruits for the presence of well-developed seed before making a collection. Strip or shake fruiting branches into a container. Remove twigs and other plant material. Germination may be inhibited by the fruiting perianth as levels increased after its partial removal.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSB | 1,000 (4.07 g) | 10 | 18-May-2007 | RJB71885 North Western | |||
| BGA | 1,600 (6.05 g) | 30+ | 20-Dec-2012 | KHB726 Flinders Ranges | 1-May-2019 | 54% | -18°C |
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.